The Best Days to Book a Flight and When to Fly

On February 16, 2025 By newsroom Topic: Traveler buyers guide

Summing it up

No Single Best Day to Book: Deals can happen any day of the week as prices fluctuate with demand.
Best Days to Fly:
Domestic Flights: Tuesday and Friday for lower prices; avoid Sunday and Monday for higher costs.
International Flights: Wednesday and Saturday are typically cheapest.

1. Insights on Flight Pricing

Booking Patterns

Flight prices adjust constantly based on demand.
Sales or competitive pricing may pop up randomly, not on a specific day.

Flying Around Holidays

Holiday Tips:
Book as early as possible, especially for major holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
Flying on the holiday itself (e.g., Thanksgiving Day) is often cheaper.
Avoid peak days close to holidays, such as the Friday before a long weekend.

2. Best Days to Fly

Domestic Flights

Cheapest Days: Tuesdays and Fridays (average savings of 12% compared to peak prices).
Most Expensive Days: Sundays and Mondays.

International Flights

Cheapest Days: Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Savings: Departing midweek may save ~10% compared to Fridays, the most expensive day.

3. Tips to Find Cheap Flights

Plan Ahead

Domestic Flights: Book 1-3 months in advance.
International Flights: Book 2-8 months in advance.

Use Price Alerts

Set alerts on platforms like Google Flights, Hopper, or Kayak to track drops in prices.

Rebook for Savings

If prices drop and your airline offers free cancellation or changes, rebook to save money.
Note: You may receive a travel voucher or credit instead of a refund.

Be Flexible

Destinations: Use search engines to explore deals for multiple destinations.
Airports: Check nearby airports for cheaper departures or arrivals.
Dates: Use calendar tools to find the least expensive dates to travel.

4. Extra Savings Tips

Consider Alternative Flight Times: Early morning or red-eye flights are often cheaper.
Long Layovers: Can offer lower ticket prices and an opportunity to explore another city.
Travel Credit Cards:
Earn points for flights or redeem points for cheaper travel.
Example: Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 5x points on travel booked through Chase.

The Bottom Line

There’s no magic day to book flights, but strategic planning and flexibility can maximize your savings. Focus on midweek departures, book early for holidays, and use tools like price alerts to snag the best deals.